Open English Translation ACTs Chapter 28

28 Once everyone was safe, we discovered that the island is called Malta. 2 And the people there showed incredible kindness to us as they welcomed us and lit a fire, as it started raining again and was very cold. 3 However when Paul was helping to pick up sticks and putting them on the fire, a viper was driven out by the heat and clamped its jaws down on his hand. 4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand they decided that he must be a murderer who had survived the shipwreck but now fate had finally decided his time was up. 5 However, Paul just shook the snake off into the fire and wasn’t harmed. 6 The locals were waiting for his arm to swell up or for him to fall down dead, but after a while when nothing happened they changed their minds and decided that instead, he must be a god.

7 The area that we had beached in belonged to the leader of the island named Publius. He welcomed us and looked after us for three days, 8 but while we were there, his father got sick with dysentery and fever. Paul went in and placing his hands on him, prayed for him and healed him. 9 As a result of that, anyone on the whole island who was sick came and was cured 10 and so the people brought us many gifts and when we left, they supplied us with provisions.

11 After three months we were able to leave on an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island. It was decorated with carvings of the twin ‘gods’. 12 We stayed three days when we arrived at Syracuse 13 and then we sailed on to Rhegium. The next day a south wind came so we sailed on to Puteoli 14 where we found some believers and they encouraged us to stay for seven days. Then we finally got to Rome. 15 The believers in Rome had heard about us, so they came to meet us at the Appius Market and the Three Taverns. Paul was encouraged to see them and thanked God.

16 When we got into Rome proper, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with just a soldier guarding him.

17 After three days, he called together the leaders of the Jews in Rome, and when they’d all gathered he spoke to them, “Men, brothers, I have done nothing against my people or against our ancestral customs. I was taken prisoner in Yerushalem and handed over to the Romans 18 who, after examining me, wanted to release me because I had done nothing worthy of execution. 19 But in defending myself against the Jews there, I felt compelled to appeal to Caesar, although I myself had no complaint against the Jews. 20 So that was why I called for you and wanted to address you, because I am in chains for the sake of Israel’s hope—the messiah.”

21 “We haven’t received any correspondence here about you,” they answered. “Nor have any of our brothers from Yerushalem arrived here to report any crimes of yours. 22 But we would very much like to hear from you about your thinking, because we’ve certainly heard about this new sect because everyone is speaking out against it.”

23 Then they set a day when they could visit him where he was staying and so that from morning to evening he could explain about God’s kingdom and show them how Mosheh’ law and the prophets’ writings spoke about Yeshua. 24 Afterwards some were persuaded while others didn’t find it believable. 25 They argued back and forth, and as they were about to leave, Paul shared this final message, “The holy spirit spoke rightly through Isayah the prophet to your ancestors, saying:

26 Go to these people and tell them,

When you listen you will hear but not understand,

and when you look you will see but not perceive it.

27 Because these people’s minds have become dull

and they can barely hear with their ears

and they shut their eyes,

just in case their eyes might actually see,

and their ears might actually hear,

and they might understand with their minds,

and turn back to me

and then I would heal them.

28 So now let it be known to you all that the message of salvation from God has been sent out to non-Jews and they will listen.”

29 ◘ 30 Paul remained in his own rental accommodation in Rome for two whole years and welcomed everyone who went to see him, 31 telling them about God’s kingdom and boldly teaching about the master Yeshua without any hindrance.